This is a decidedly blank spot in my understanding of history, especially European history, as the only close study of it I’ve ever probably takes comes from either novels or 10th grade world history. I probably would have taken AP European History if it had been offered, but alas.
The US edition of this book has the subtitle of “The Five Revolutions That Made Modern Europe: 1648-1815” which feels a little forced as the French, English, and American revolution are front and center here, but I struggle to figure out the last two. But instead, it’s a relatively broad strokes history of the time period, focusing primarily on a top-down approach (which is what I was looking for) and especially covering heads of state, wars, political movements, and the development of the economies.
The book begins with a comparison of the roads of the different countries, especially France and England, with France perhaps having a more modern set of main thoroughfares (that barely anyone used apparently) while England had a magnitude more of small and minor roads that people used constantly. We get the founding of the Frenchified Russian court, the basics of the Holy Roman Empire and the Austrian-Hungarian Empire.
The book, while good, is an overview, with each section worthy of several books on its own. It’s not quite a book that is actually a syllabus, but certain a book that should spark an interest, rather than satisfy it. I do think its funny the use of the word “revolution” was thought necessary to get American readers enticed. They going to talk about us!!